deleting emailsGeneral

When i want to delete emails, it appears i can only delete one at a time. Then they go into trash, which i can only delete one at a time. I get lots of emails and this is really a pain in the as_. Other programs ( such as your call logs) can be deleted by going to menu/ delete and then in the upper right it says delete all or one by one. BUT, that same system is not in the email program . Any suggestions ????????